They are usually recyclable but end of in the bathroom trash can which typically gets emptied into the house trash can, usually not getting sorted before dumping.

Did you know that the plastic pumps in bottles (e.g. lotion) are not yet recyclable. When you finish the bottle, discard (or reuse) the pump, and recycle the bottle.

Typically we think these items are also non-recyclable:

Toothbrushes

Toothpaste tubes

Bottle pumps

Dental floss containers

Shrink wrap

Plastic marked #4 or #5 may not be accepted at all recycling facilities

But there is a way to recycle them when your local facility can not handle them. If you are not familiar with TerraCycle, now is the time! TerraCycle is an innovative recycling company that has become a global leader in recycling hard-to-recycle waste. TerraCycle offers recycling programs for lots of hard to recycle items like

Barilla Ready Paste bags

Bausch & Lomb One By One

Bear Naked snacks

Brita

Burt’s Bees

cigarette waste

Colgate

Entenmann’s Little Bites

Larabar wrappers

Clif Bar wrappers

Frebreze

Flonase

Late July snacks

Honest drink pouches

Solo Cups

and more!

According to Stacey Krauss, U.S. public relations manager for Terracycle, which accepts toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, mouthwash containers and dental floss packaging through the mail-back Oral Care Brigade. “Toothbrushes are one of the most complicated items that we collect for recycling across the board, simply because they’re made up of three different components.”

One of the many Terracycle Brigades is for traditional oral care products. After you use the oral care container, simply drop it into your designated box (or bag) with any other items you collect like toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes and other bathroom leftovers. Once the bag is full you mail it back to Terracycle for recycling. You earn two points for each item mailed back. Those points can be redeemed for cash donations to the school or charity of your choice.

TerraCycle offers free recycling programs funded by brands, manufacturers, and retailers around the world to help you collect and recycle your hard-to-recycle waste. Simply choose the programs you’d like to join; start collecting in your home, school, or office; download free shipping labels; and send us your waste to be recycled. You can even earn rewards for your school or favorite non-profit!